She doesn't eat much? How much should she have? Is this ok??

I *think* I am, but just wondering what others would do??

Ok, so Jazz is 17 months, and she seems to be taking to the "King, Prince, Pauper" recommendation of eating!

Breakfast, I can't stop her, she just eats and eats and eats! I'll give her cereal and then make myself some toast and she'll come and pinch some, so she eats a bowl of cereal (usually 1.5-2 weetbix! :o) and then maybe half a piece of toast. Then some fruit for morning tea, she'll generally polish that off.

Then lunch she is a bit touch and go, I don't make it until she tells me she is hungry, and then she'll probably only eat maybe half a plate/bowl of whatever I give her. So if we had a sandwich, she'll eat half. If we have rice, she'll eat half, you get the picture. She eats half of what I'd expect her to eat.

Afternoon tea I give her some milk in a sippy cup.

Dinner, she's lucky to eat more than a few mouthfuls unless its something she really loves like tuna bake or chicken or roast or mashed potato.

Then she sleeps all night...

So... Shel and I agree on what we do but others think we are starving her (even though she's the chunkiest and happiest little toddler I've seen hehe!) so I just wanted to know if others do what we do if not?

We usually DON'T make her something else... so some nights she goes to bed having not eaten dinner... but it doesn't seem to bother her you know, its there for her to eat, we give her things that she likes and has eaten in the past, she just chooses not to eat it. Should we make her something else? She sleeps all night, so she's obviously not starving? Or is she just too weak to wake up (so says ... others ... ). I know she'd probably eat dinner if we made her honey toast every night, and she'd probably turn down most other things, but I don't know if I want to start this different meal making thing! She'd eat it if she were hungry right? We keep it out on her little table for a while in case she wants it but mostly she just picks and then gets up and walks away (we find she eats MORE not sitting in her high chair so we don't bother with it anymore, she hates the restriction and tends not to eat ANYTHING so thats not an option).

I DO worry about malnutrition, and Shel and I discussed toddler formula (i KNOW i KNOW, we just discussed it we didn't go any further but yeah, we are worried) but I don't know if she's getting enough. Ok, I think she's healthy because she's happy, energetic, playful, sleeps well, is learning new skills, etc.
Does my breastmilk still give her nutrients? I know, another stupid question but ... does it?

Should we start giving her her 'main meal' at lunch? So dinner at lunch? So she gets some vegies too?


Have others had a toddler like this? How much *should* she have? I know they say look at it over a week not a day, but in a week I'm sure she doesnt get what she should be eating... which is why we discussed toddler formula. Though I doubt she'd take it anyway. What about Milo? Or a non-Nestle equivalent? Would that be good?

Oh and she breastfeeds HEAPS in the morning, not much after lunch, and sometimes has a quick feed and either goes to sleep or we lay down with her and she puts herself to sleep. She rarely wakes at night any more.

Hi Leasha,

Your DD sounds like she is eating just fine. It actually sounds a lot like my DD only she's started eating even less now and she's just turned two! They eat if they are hungry so don't worry about her getting enough. She sounds like she is eating plenty!! As for the nutrition, I wouldn't add milo etc. Lots of sugar! Maybe change her lunch or brekky up a bit. What about a boiled egg for brekky or some scrambled eggs? I try to get as many vegies into my DD as possible, so instead of fruit I'll offer her some raw vegies, like beans or grated carrot and I make up a zucchini slice which has eggs, vegies and cheese in it so it covers a lot of different food groups. She LOVES that.....I think snacks are great because kids tend to just graze as they get older rather than having large meals at specific times. I really hope that helps. Feeding kids is one of the most stressful things. And your breastmilk is the BEST drink you could possibly give her! Definitely don't doubt that ;) Sounds like you're doing a fantastic job.

Hi Leasha,

It sounds fine, I wouldn't worry. As long as she continue to sleep fine, grow, be happy, healthy and active, there is nothing to worry about.

As for those who say she doesn't wake because she's too weak...ffft...is she full of beans and running around and getting into everything and talking to much and wanting attention and running around and not stopping *phew* (y'know, a toddler?)? Well, there's your answer hey :).

If I had to pick anything, it sounds like she maybe doesn't eat a huge amount of vegies so maybe try NikW's suggestion of offering some vegies for morning tea...but that's if I'm looking for an issue.

It's so hard, wondering if they get all they need isn't it? I'm sure your Breastmilk is helping out heaps as well.

I think you answered your own question there - she has an adorable chubby fact - I certainly wouldn't be worried about her not eating enough. My DD eats the same way - lots up to lunch and then sparsely for rest of day - try making her an omelette in the mornings for breakfast so you can put grated veggies in that, or putting the fruit in with her weetbix and then veggie sticks of something for morning tea if not enough veggies at night as that's what we've had to do- my bubs skinny though and has lost weight from a nasty tummy bug so have been thinking of putting some toddler formula in with her milk since no breast milk from me :( but YES, your breastmilk has lots of nutrients in it for your bub, much more than something sugary and artificial like Milo.

DS2 is exactly the same, eats like a horse for the firsthalf of the day and then tapers off to bugger all by dinner time. He doesn't have milk at all through the day either now, only water. She is still eating a pretty fair amount over the course of the entire day, so I really wouldn't be worried about it. Just make sure that when she is eating the most, that those meals are good and healthy and then it doesn't matter if they don't eat a lot at night because you know they have gotten it all earlier kwim?

I would think there is no point in toddler formula if she is still getting boobie milk.

It sounds like it is mostly what other people are saying that is worrying you. The thing about being too weak to wake at night sounds like complete rubbish! I would expect serious health issues before that happened.

My DD doesn't eat much and never has. I always just kept an eye on her weight.

I reckon if you have a bub who is sleeping at night, happy and putting on weight then everything is fine.

She sounds completely normal to me as well. Emily can polish off 4 weetbix, 2 pieces of toast & some fruit, and that's just at brekkie! Emily doesn't like to eat when it's hot, so she eats most of her food in the morning/lunch, then hardly anything for afternoon tea/dinner. She's 15kg and sleeps 12 hours overnight, so I'm not complaining. Jazz would be letting you know if she's hungry.

She sounds totally, utterly normal :D. I wouldn't change a thing, just keep offering the way you are, and one day you'll realise that she actually sits down an eats dinner with you....not just a few bites but a whole plate! But it will likely be a gradual change.

Things sound perfectly fine ATM, IMO anyway :)

Oh sooooooooooo normal!!!!

Jett is similar - only he will eat 3 weetbix, a tub of yoghurt and some fruit in the morning. If it is a growt spurt phase he will even eat a piece of toast on top of that - but we draw the line there otherwise he wil just keep eating!!

the rest of the day follows pretty similarly to Jazz's. If it is something he finds particularly tasty he will eat lots for dinner otherwise it can range from a couple of mouthfuls to half a plate.

He also sleeps overnight, and I think that is completely normal at this age. They either do or they don't and both ways are just as normal as the other. If she slept all day and then all night I would be concerned about too weak to eat.

Look at Jazz, she will tell you if something is wrong, not your neighbours sister's cat (or whoever is judging you)!! :)

The one thing I would consider is a kiddie multivitamin - there don't seem to be a lot of vegies going in! Again this is pretty normal, and thus far I haven't resorted to it with my munchkin, who has similar eccentric eating habits....

Normal Leash ;)

Jake is the same, eats easily in the morning, and tea time he hardly eats a thing. By #3 I'm over worrying and it really is true, they will eat when they are hungry. I also justify not worrying of a night in my mind because I feel if he drinks a bottle of milk before bed, there is some sustenance going in ;)

She has it the right way around you know Leasha! Your not really meant to eat great big meals of a night, only thing is maybe offer more vegies like others have suggested in things she enjoys!

She sounds healthy to me!

It also sounds to me that there is someone whispering in you & Shell's ears undermining your confidence / mummy instict. You know in your heart of hearts that you are not starving you gorgeous, might I add chubby :) baby girl! :clap: Time for some earplugs!

pfft to those who says she is too weak to be waking up at night... are these the same people who said she should be sleeping through just a few months ago??? unfortunately people will always find something to criticise about.

I also think you have answered a lot of your own questions... she is happy and full of energy - if she wasn't eating enough she wouldn't be. I wouldn't be making her anything different for tea otherwise she might only ever eat honey toast for tea yk?

IMO while ever you are bf (and even if she isn't feeding as much everything becomes more concentrated) she is getting a lot of nutrients from that, so I don't believe you need to give her toddler milk.

Like other posters have suggested, if you are truly worried about her lack of vege intake so to speak that you might want to look at adding some veges into her lunch time meal or to an omelette in the morning etc...

Bella is the same too and she is a few weeks younger than Jazz.... She will eat like a horse in the morning and take less and less as the day goes on. Come dinnertime I can pretty much forget it, she will only pick a few mouthfulls here and there. Just by reading other posts, sounds like the norm then.